Further Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions From June 8thRoadmap For Reopening of Society and Business - Phase 2

Today, 5th June 2020, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that Ireland can move to Phase 2 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business from Monday, June 8th. The Government has also announced an acceleration of the Roadmap: there will now only be 4 phases planned instead of 5. Phase 3 will commence on 29th June and Phase 4 from 20th July.

These are five things you should know for Phase 2 starting on Monday the 8th of June.

✅Stay Local: You may travel within your own county, and up to 20 kilometres from your home if crossing county boundaries.
✅Meeting other people: You may meet up to 6 people from outside your household both indoors and outdoors for social gatherings. Organised outdoor exercise, sporting, cultural or social activities of up to 15 people may take place
✅Shops: All retail is reopening. Shop locally, shop safely and support businesses in your community.
✅Work from home: It is more important than ever to work from home where possible.
✅Transport: Walk or cycle if you can. Only use public transport if you absolutely need to. Public transport capacity is limited because of social distancing requirements.

We hope this message finds you well. We appreciate your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19. Below are a few communications updates for you.#InThisTogether Wellbeing campaign
Thank you for all of the fantastic support for the #InThisTogether Wellbeing campaign, from the Department of Health and the HSE. This will continue to be on the airwaves in June. The website is www.gov.ie/together and the hashtag is #InThisTogether. Partners are recommended to continue to share their wellbeing content under the hashtag #InThisTogether.

The radio adverts can be found here and include new ads which are being aired on national and local radio relating to:
1. Social distancing and disability – keeping in mind people with disabilities, including the visually impaired
2. Sleep – advice for people experiencing disturbed sleep at this time
3. ‘Small Walk’ - advice for people who are worried about getting back out and about or may be feeling unsteady on their feet

Family Carers Ireland - offering family carers free counselling sessions
As a carer, there are times when mental health and emotional well-being may be challenged due to a combination of the demands of a caring role, and the additional worries of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Family Carers Ireland offer help to family carers, as they believe no one should have to care alone. They have developed a free, short-term online and phone counselling service for family carers, and will connect carers with a qualified counsellor from a panel of approved professionals.
The service can be accessed through the website or through the National Freephone Careline on 1800 24 07 24.

Online Mental Health Supports
As part of their on-going collaboration with HSE Mental Health, Silvercloud Health has made four of their online mental health and wellbeing programs free to access for all health sector staff and volunteers. The four programs cover: Stress; Sleep; Resilience; and Challenging Times, and were developed in response to COVID-19. These programs, which are self-directed, feature evidence-based content in a series of modules that draw on well-established interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy. The HSE and Silvercloud want to ensure that the wider health sector can avail of the programs. To find out more and to access the content, please visit the dedicated landing page and please remember to use the access code HSE2020. Further information on minding your mental health during Covid-19 can be found here.

COVID-19 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communications Resources
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, communicating in a health setting such as a busy clinic or ward situation can be difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity for many healthcare staff to wear face masks have made communication even more difficult, especially for people who may rely on lip-reading.
The Irish Deaf Society and Chime, in partnership with the HSE, have prepared resources for use by Healthcare workers and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These can be found here and include guidelines for staff, communication supports and videos in Irish Sign Language.

Institute of Public Health Survey
The Institute of Public Health is inviting people to take part in an online anonymous international survey to help understand how people are coping during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey has been developed by the International Loneliness and Social Isolation Research Network (I-LINK) that includes the Institute of Public Health along with Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin and Maynooth University as well as colleagues from the UK, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. The intent is that the information will help understand how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted individuals, families, communities, policies and services at both a country and global level. See survey at the link https://bit.ly/36PxDg1.

Statement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development on COVID-19

In a statement released on June 3rd the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michel Ring said: "Community organisations, charities, social enterprises and the volunteers who assist them, have been an integral part of our country’s response to this pandemic. And while elements of our society and economy are now beginning to reopen, the reality is that the community and voluntary sector never closed."
Read the full statement here.

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was introduced on 26th March to support the viability of firms and preserve the relationship between the employer and employee. An extension has now been announced until end of August 2020. See further details at .this link here.

Find here a step by step guide on how families who are relying on their phone for connectivity can move to unlimited internet without having to pay. This is for families/individuals who need internet for school/college work.

There will be another Online Stress Control Programme beginning next Monday 8th June.
This 6 session programme is free and there has been very positive feedback to date, so please spread the word to anyone that you think would benefit.
Please see the timetable here. For more information, go to www.stresscontrol.ie.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland 1:1 Sessions
with a Dementia Nurse or a Dementia Adviser

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s National Helpline has expanded with a new free call-back service which offers people with dementia and family carers the opportunity to book a 1:1 session with a Dementia Nurse or a Dementia Adviser by calling the Helpline on 1800 341 341. This service creates a space for people with dementia and their families to raise issues that may be arising for them during the cocooning phase of the COVID-19 Emergency.

The HOMENAUTS initiative offers a website community repository for free activities/suggestions to cope with physical distancing measures and staying healthy at home that may be useful for people of all ages! This is a really great list of free resources offered by companies, media outlets and individuals to help you cope with the time at home. Why not give it a look here.

Galway City Council Mobility TeamHave Your SayWhat would it take to make Galway a safer place for social distancing during COVID-19 and more easily accessible by foot or bicycle?

The Galway City Council Mobility Team are seeking public suggestions on how to best reallocate road space to support social distancing.What are your ideas? What are your needs?
If you have a few minutes to spare, you can click here to submit a request.
For further details see www.galwaycity.ie/mobilityteam.

Further Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions From June 8thRoadmap For Reopening of Society and Business - Phase 2

Today, 5th June 2020, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that Ireland can move to Phase 2 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business from Monday, June 8th. The Government has also announced an acceleration of the Roadmap: there will now only be 4 phases planned instead of 5. Phase 3 will commence on 29th June and Phase 4 from 20th July.

These are five things you should know for Phase 2 starting on Monday the 8th of June.

✅Stay Local: You may travel within your own county, and up to 20 kilometres from your home if crossing county boundaries.
✅Meeting other people: You may meet up to 6 people from outside your household both indoors and outdoors for social gatherings. Organised outdoor exercise, sporting, cultural or social activities of up to 15 people may take place
✅Shops: All retail is reopening. Shop locally, shop safely and support businesses in your community.
✅Work from home: It is more important than ever to work from home where possible.
✅Transport: Walk or cycle if you can. Only use public transport if you absolutely need to. Public transport capacity is limited because of social distancing requirements.

We hope this message finds you well. We appreciate your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19. Below are a few communications updates for you.#InThisTogether Wellbeing campaign
Thank you for all of the fantastic support for the #InThisTogether Wellbeing campaign, from the Department of Health and the HSE. This will continue to be on the airwaves in June. The website is www.gov.ie/together and the hashtag is #InThisTogether. Partners are recommended to continue to share their wellbeing content under the hashtag #InThisTogether.

The radio adverts can be found here and include new ads which are being aired on national and local radio relating to:
1. Social distancing and disability – keeping in mind people with disabilities, including the visually impaired
2. Sleep – advice for people experiencing disturbed sleep at this time
3. ‘Small Walk’ - advice for people who are worried about getting back out and about or may be feeling unsteady on their feet

Family Carers Ireland - offering family carers free counselling sessions
As a carer, there are times when mental health and emotional well-being may be challenged due to a combination of the demands of a caring role, and the additional worries of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Family Carers Ireland offer help to family carers, as they believe no one should have to care alone. They have developed a free, short-term online and phone counselling service for family carers, and will connect carers with a qualified counsellor from a panel of approved professionals.
The service can be accessed through the website or through the National Freephone Careline on 1800 24 07 24.

Online Mental Health Supports
As part of their on-going collaboration with HSE Mental Health, Silvercloud Health has made four of their online mental health and wellbeing programs free to access for all health sector staff and volunteers. The four programs cover: Stress; Sleep; Resilience; and Challenging Times, and were developed in response to COVID-19. These programs, which are self-directed, feature evidence-based content in a series of modules that draw on well-established interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy. The HSE and Silvercloud want to ensure that the wider health sector can avail of the programs. To find out more and to access the content, please visit the dedicated landing page and please remember to use the access code HSE2020. Further information on minding your mental health during Covid-19 can be found here.

COVID-19 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communications Resources
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, communicating in a health setting such as a busy clinic or ward situation can be difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity for many healthcare staff to wear face masks have made communication even more difficult, especially for people who may rely on lip-reading.
The Irish Deaf Society and Chime, in partnership with the HSE, have prepared resources for use by Healthcare workers and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These can be found here and include guidelines for staff, communication supports and videos in Irish Sign Language.

Institute of Public Health Survey
The Institute of Public Health is inviting people to take part in an online anonymous international survey to help understand how people are coping during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey has been developed by the International Loneliness and Social Isolation Research Network (I-LINK) that includes the Institute of Public Health along with Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin and Maynooth University as well as colleagues from the UK, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. The intent is that the information will help understand how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted individuals, families, communities, policies and services at both a country and global level. See survey at the link https://bit.ly/36PxDg1.

Statement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development on COVID-19

In a statement released on June 3rd the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michel Ring said: "Community organisations, charities, social enterprises and the volunteers who assist them, have been an integral part of our country’s response to this pandemic. And while elements of our society and economy are now beginning to reopen, the reality is that the community and voluntary sector never closed."
Read the full statement here.

The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) was introduced on 26th March to support the viability of firms and preserve the relationship between the employer and employee. An extension has now been announced until end of August 2020. See further details at .this link here.

Find here a step by step guide on how families who are relying on their phone for connectivity can move to unlimited internet without having to pay. This is for families/individuals who need internet for school/college work.

There will be another Online Stress Control Programme beginning next Monday 8th June.
This 6 session programme is free and there has been very positive feedback to date, so please spread the word to anyone that you think would benefit.
Please see the timetable here. For more information, go to www.stresscontrol.ie.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland 1:1 Sessions
with a Dementia Nurse or a Dementia Adviser

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s National Helpline has expanded with a new free call-back service which offers people with dementia and family carers the opportunity to book a 1:1 session with a Dementia Nurse or a Dementia Adviser by calling the Helpline on 1800 341 341. This service creates a space for people with dementia and their families to raise issues that may be arising for them during the cocooning phase of the COVID-19 Emergency.

The HOMENAUTS initiative offers a website community repository for free activities/suggestions to cope with physical distancing measures and staying healthy at home that may be useful for people of all ages! This is a really great list of free resources offered by companies, media outlets and individuals to help you cope with the time at home. Why not give it a look here.

Galway City Council Mobility TeamHave Your SayWhat would it take to make Galway a safer place for social distancing during COVID-19 and more easily accessible by foot or bicycle?

The Galway City Council Mobility Team are seeking public suggestions on how to best reallocate road space to support social distancing.What are your ideas? What are your needs?
If you have a few minutes to spare, you can click here to submit a request.
For further details see www.galwaycity.ie/mobilityteam.

Galway City Council currently operates two allotment sites – Merlin Woods & Shantalla. Applications are invited from persons who wish to be considered for any vacant plots that may arise in these two sites or any new developed sites during the period 2020-2022. Find further details here.

The All Ireland Pollinator PlanRaising AwarenessHave you heard of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan?
Did you know that bees and other pollinating insects are crucial for agriculture, food production and the economy?

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is about all of us, from farmers to local authorities, to schools, gardeners and businesses, coming together to try to create an Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive. If you're curious to find out more go here and watch a series of informative videos here.
RTE's Nationwide profiled recently the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and offered some great input on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. You can watch the 27th of May episode on RTÉ Player here.
Also, for initiatives led in Galway city, you can watch the Friends of Merlin Woods Butterfly Project Walk live-streamed on Facebook here and the talk led with Stuart Dunlop, a wildlife expert from Donegal here.

Marine wildlife is massively affected by our intensive use of plastic. As part of their 1-minute explainer project, Clean Coasts have created a Marine Litter Series of videos on the impacts of plastic on marine life. Watch the first video here and second video here. Keep an eye on the Clean Coast Facebook Page for more!

Healthy Ireland encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors as. Being outdoors has so many benefits for our wellbeing and can help us to connect back with nature. Gary Graham, Show Manager of Bloom, shares some great tips on how to feel the power of nature and calm the mind in this video here.

With the good weather continuing this weekend, get outdoors and explore nature around you, notice the colours, sounds and smells, but do not forget to:

In this time of great anxiety, we need to remain aware of the impact it is having on people's mental health. We know that there are many people who are struggling through this period and many feeling they have nowhere to turn. Suicide prevention needs our immediate attention.
Cycle Against Suicide have designed a unique event to create a deeper sense of empathy, promote an active lifestyle and highlight to people that they are not alone, there are options available. We are urging people to take to their bikes and join the MKMChallenge.
Full details are available at the link here.
Watch the promo video here.

A new online Suicide Prevention training programme called START is now available in Ireland (please see flyer here). The course was developed by LivingWorks in Canada and is seen as a step before SafeTALK.
The target audience for this START training is anyone who has not attended SafeTALK or ASIST workshops in the past.
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete START and is suitable for over 18s.
If you are interested in completing the programme, please email Mary McGrath at mary.mcgrath9@hse.ie and a licence will be issued to you. As this is a pilot phase, there are only a limited number of licences.
Please only apply if you fully intend to complete the course.

The Online Meeting Accessibility Guidance below can be used when organising and running accessible online meetings following a Universal Design Approach.
Universal Design is about creating an environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. You can download the Online Meeting Accessibility Guide here.

Create invites artists and other interested socially engaged practitioners based in Ireland to become members of their virtual Reading Group. Coordinated by Create’s Cultural Diversity Researcher Evgeny Shtorn, the group will have its first meeting on the 9th of June, from 1 to 2pm and then proceed meetingtwice a month to read and discuss articles, films, and online exhibitions related to a number of different nonetheless interconnected topics such as cultural diversity, social citizenship, identities, the role of art and artists in the society, practices of resilience, meaningful collaborations, ethics, and aesthetics in collaborative arts. Please visit the Create website here to read full details and to join.

Artist Lauren Conway is issuing a call for artwork from the Leaving Cert class of 2020 about how they have been affected by the cancellation of the Leaving Cert.

Skill essential. No entry fee. All submissions will be available to view online as part of an online exhibition and will be contributing to the artist’s artistic research.Deadline June 20th. Find out more here.

Parents of children aged between 4 and 17 on or before 30 September 2020, may be eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. If the requirements are met, payments of either €150 or €275 per child can be issued. The scheme is open for applications from Monday 1st June. Learn more on the Citizens Information website here.

Sexual Health West (formerly AIDS West) are hoping to get a more detailed understanding of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) needs of parents. They have created a short survey about what relationships and sexuality education people received at school, and how confident they are in talking to children or young people in their care about relationships and sexuality. If you can help, please complete the short survey here. It's completely anonymous, and it will help Sexual Health West plan future supports for parents. Feel free to distribute to friends & family.

Galway City Council is delighted to be sponsoring the Lean On Me initiative for Galway city. By purchasing a voucher, you will help your favourite local business as it re-opens for business. Plus, it is a way for you to have prepaid vouchers to spend in our local economy. Please support our local businesses by shopping local. Find more on www.leanonme.eu.

Galway City Council currently operates two allotment sites – Merlin Woods & Shantalla. Applications are invited from persons who wish to be considered for any vacant plots that may arise in these two sites or any new developed sites during the period 2020-2022. Find further details here.

The All Ireland Pollinator PlanRaising AwarenessHave you heard of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan?
Did you know that bees and other pollinating insects are crucial for agriculture, food production and the economy?

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is about all of us, from farmers to local authorities, to schools, gardeners and businesses, coming together to try to create an Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive. If you're curious to find out more go here and watch a series of informative videos here.
RTE's Nationwide profiled recently the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and offered some great input on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. You can watch the 27th of May episode on RTÉ Player here.
Also, for initiatives led in Galway city, you can watch the Friends of Merlin Woods Butterfly Project Walk live-streamed on Facebook here and the talk led with Stuart Dunlop, a wildlife expert from Donegal here.

Marine wildlife is massively affected by our intensive use of plastic. As part of their 1-minute explainer project, Clean Coasts have created a Marine Litter Series of videos on the impacts of plastic on marine life. Watch the first video here and second video here. Keep an eye on the Clean Coast Facebook Page for more!

Healthy Ireland encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors as. Being outdoors has so many benefits for our wellbeing and can help us to connect back with nature. Gary Graham, Show Manager of Bloom, shares some great tips on how to feel the power of nature and calm the mind in this video here.

With the good weather continuing this weekend, get outdoors and explore nature around you, notice the colours, sounds and smells, but do not forget to:

In this time of great anxiety, we need to remain aware of the impact it is having on people's mental health. We know that there are many people who are struggling through this period and many feeling they have nowhere to turn. Suicide prevention needs our immediate attention.
Cycle Against Suicide have designed a unique event to create a deeper sense of empathy, promote an active lifestyle and highlight to people that they are not alone, there are options available. We are urging people to take to their bikes and join the MKMChallenge.
Full details are available at the link here.
Watch the promo video here.

A new online Suicide Prevention training programme called START is now available in Ireland (please see flyer here). The course was developed by LivingWorks in Canada and is seen as a step before SafeTALK.
The target audience for this START training is anyone who has not attended SafeTALK or ASIST workshops in the past.
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete START and is suitable for over 18s.
If you are interested in completing the programme, please email Mary McGrath at mary.mcgrath9@hse.ie and a licence will be issued to you. As this is a pilot phase, there are only a limited number of licences.
Please only apply if you fully intend to complete the course.

The Online Meeting Accessibility Guidance below can be used when organising and running accessible online meetings following a Universal Design Approach.
Universal Design is about creating an environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. You can download the Online Meeting Accessibility Guide here.

Create invites artists and other interested socially engaged practitioners based in Ireland to become members of their virtual Reading Group. Coordinated by Create’s Cultural Diversity Researcher Evgeny Shtorn, the group will have its first meeting on the 9th of June, from 1 to 2pm and then proceed meetingtwice a month to read and discuss articles, films, and online exhibitions related to a number of different nonetheless interconnected topics such as cultural diversity, social citizenship, identities, the role of art and artists in the society, practices of resilience, meaningful collaborations, ethics, and aesthetics in collaborative arts. Please visit the Create website here to read full details and to join.

Artist Lauren Conway is issuing a call for artwork from the Leaving Cert class of 2020 about how they have been affected by the cancellation of the Leaving Cert.

Skill essential. No entry fee. All submissions will be available to view online as part of an online exhibition and will be contributing to the artist’s artistic research.Deadline June 20th. Find out more here.

Parents of children aged between 4 and 17 on or before 30 September 2020, may be eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. If the requirements are met, payments of either €150 or €275 per child can be issued. The scheme is open for applications from Monday 1st June. Learn more on the Citizens Information website here.

Sexual Health West (formerly AIDS West) are hoping to get a more detailed understanding of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) needs of parents. They have created a short survey about what relationships and sexuality education people received at school, and how confident they are in talking to children or young people in their care about relationships and sexuality. If you can help, please complete the short survey here. It's completely anonymous, and it will help Sexual Health West plan future supports for parents. Feel free to distribute to friends & family.

Galway City Council is delighted to be sponsoring the Lean On Me initiative for Galway city. By purchasing a voucher, you will help your favourite local business as it re-opens for business. Plus, it is a way for you to have prepaid vouchers to spend in our local economy. Please support our local businesses by shopping local. Find more on www.leanonme.eu.

We hope this message finds you well. Thanks for your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19. This communications update is particularly aimed at sharing, and drawing your attention to the COVID-19 public health information translated resources. We would be very grateful for your help in sharing these resources as widely as possible with relevant communities.

Translated COVID-19 Resources
For those whose first language is neither English nor Irish, we have translated public health information into 24 other languages. These include Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Simplified Chinese, Czech, Farsi, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Kurdish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Urdu and Yoruba. We are also working on developing resources in Somali and Eritrean. The most up to date translated partner resources for COVID-19 can be found here.

Roma--------------------------------------
A series of resources for the Roma Community are available in Romani or translated into Romanian, Slovak and Czech here.
For the speakers of Romanian in the Roma Community there is also a video with important information available at this link here.
There is a Roma specific resources page which includes easy read and image-based communication documents and a translation of the Phase 1 government re-opening roadmap which can be found here.

Migrant Health--------------------------
There is also a Migrant Health resources page, which includes videos in various languages and further specific translated resources.

Other Resources-----------------------
The COVID-19 World Service is a joint initiative of Nasc and Together Ireland. The COVID-19 World Service has video messages from doctors and other healthcare professionals in several languages for migrants living in Ireland.
Video 1: General advice on how to prevent the contraction and spread of the virus.
Video 2: Information on self-isolation, what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 or are a contact of someone who has.
These videos can be found here.

The Government’s ‘Community Call – Advice and Contact Information for Your County’ leaflet has been translated into 12 different languages and is available here.

Galway City Cruinniú na nÓg
Saturday 13th June 2020A National Day of Free Creative Activity for Children and Young People

This year in response to COVID-19, Cruinniú na nÓg celebrates and encourages participation by children and young people in creative activities in their own homes and gardens. Led by the local Creative Galway Team in Galway City Council, with support from Youth Work Ireland Galway, local artists, arts organisations, creative practitioners, and local community groups activities include everything from a family-friendly PaintClub, 5 short circus skills’ tutorials, live youth music performances, a hip hop choreography dance class and a city-wide photography competition culminating in an online exhibition on Saturday 13th June 2020.
With a strong emphasis on creativity, activities are specially designed to spark an interest and encourage the inner creative in children to try something new or fulfil a secret ambition!
All events are free and activity-based with opportunities for young people to get involved in ‘doing’, ‘making’, ‘creating’ and trying new things.
See the Programme with further detail here.

Galway Sports Partnership is inviting the people of Galway to get #BEACTIVE as part of the European #BeActiveHour this Saturday 30th May at 4pm.

You can choose any workout or game from your Local Sports Partnership like going for a walk or a jog and feel the benefits of physical activity. See ideas here.

Take a photo of your physical activity and share it with us by tagging @GalwayLSP @SportIreland @Europe_Active and use #BeActiveHour #GalwayActive

This initiative is in conjunction with Europe Active who are inviting people across Europe to be physically active for one hour. See details here. This hour celebrates the important role that physical activity plays in people’s lives, never more so than in recent weeks and months. As we all know, physical activity has the power to boost people’s mood, reduce concerns and make people feel healthier and happier.
Watch the promo video here.

Age Action have developed a referral process for older people to be paired with an Age Action volunteer tutor that will support them get online so that they can access services and continue to participate socially.
Download the referral process here.

The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, has confirmed that a change to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) will be made to accommodate the salaries of those who have returned to work after a period of maternity or adoptive leave and who may not have been on the payroll of their employer on the 29th February, or been paid in either January or February 2020. See details here.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone
has announced a number of developments to assist childcare providers and parents plan for the reopening of services on June 29. See details here.

We hope this message finds you well. Thanks for your continuing support in helping to share information about COVID-19. This communications update is particularly aimed at sharing, and drawing your attention to the COVID-19 public health information translated resources. We would be very grateful for your help in sharing these resources as widely as possible with relevant communities.

Translated COVID-19 Resources
For those whose first language is neither English nor Irish, we have translated public health information into 24 other languages. These include Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Simplified Chinese, Czech, Farsi, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Kurdish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Urdu and Yoruba. We are also working on developing resources in Somali and Eritrean. The most up to date translated partner resources for COVID-19 can be found here.

Roma--------------------------------------
A series of resources for the Roma Community are available in Romani or translated into Romanian, Slovak and Czech here.
For the speakers of Romanian in the Roma Community there is also a video with important information available at this link here.
There is a Roma specific resources page which includes easy read and image-based communication documents and a translation of the Phase 1 government re-opening roadmap which can be found here.

Migrant Health--------------------------
There is also a Migrant Health resources page, which includes videos in various languages and further specific translated resources.

Other Resources-----------------------
The COVID-19 World Service is a joint initiative of Nasc and Together Ireland. The COVID-19 World Service has video messages from doctors and other healthcare professionals in several languages for migrants living in Ireland.
Video 1: General advice on how to prevent the contraction and spread of the virus.
Video 2: Information on self-isolation, what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 or are a contact of someone who has.
These videos can be found here.

The Government’s ‘Community Call – Advice and Contact Information for Your County’ leaflet has been translated into 12 different languages and is available here.

Galway City Cruinniú na nÓg
Saturday 13th June 2020A National Day of Free Creative Activity for Children and Young People

This year in response to COVID-19, Cruinniú na nÓg celebrates and encourages participation by children and young people in creative activities in their own homes and gardens. Led by the local Creative Galway Team in Galway City Council, with support from Youth Work Ireland Galway, local artists, arts organisations, creative practitioners, and local community groups activities include everything from a family-friendly PaintClub, 5 short circus skills’ tutorials, live youth music performances, a hip hop choreography dance class and a city-wide photography competition culminating in an online exhibition on Saturday 13th June 2020.
With a strong emphasis on creativity, activities are specially designed to spark an interest and encourage the inner creative in children to try something new or fulfil a secret ambition!
All events are free and activity-based with opportunities for young people to get involved in ‘doing’, ‘making’, ‘creating’ and trying new things.
See the Programme with further detail here.

Galway Sports Partnership is inviting the people of Galway to get #BEACTIVE as part of the European #BeActiveHour this Saturday 30th May at 4pm.

You can choose any workout or game from your Local Sports Partnership like going for a walk or a jog and feel the benefits of physical activity. See ideas here.

Take a photo of your physical activity and share it with us by tagging @GalwayLSP @SportIreland @Europe_Active and use #BeActiveHour #GalwayActive

This initiative is in conjunction with Europe Active who are inviting people across Europe to be physically active for one hour. See details here. This hour celebrates the important role that physical activity plays in people’s lives, never more so than in recent weeks and months. As we all know, physical activity has the power to boost people’s mood, reduce concerns and make people feel healthier and happier.
Watch the promo video here.

Age Action have developed a referral process for older people to be paired with an Age Action volunteer tutor that will support them get online so that they can access services and continue to participate socially.
Download the referral process here.

The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, has confirmed that a change to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) will be made to accommodate the salaries of those who have returned to work after a period of maternity or adoptive leave and who may not have been on the payroll of their employer on the 29th February, or been paid in either January or February 2020. See details here.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone
has announced a number of developments to assist childcare providers and parents plan for the reopening of services on June 29. See details here.

The Galway City Council Mobility Team will consider and respond to requests for the allocation/re-allocation of road and other public spaces to facilitate social distancing requirements associated with COVID-19 restrictions.

If you would like to submit a request to the Galway City Council Mobility Team to support social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, please fill in details of your request here.
For further details see www.galwaycity.ie/mobilityteam.

Please see here a survey from Business in the Community Ireland, who work with partner businesses across Ireland on making a positive social impact in their local communities, and on tackling issues around poverty, inequality, disadvantage, isolation, and sustainability.
Their member companies are looking for ways they can collaborate (whether with other businesses, charities & voluntary organisations or with local councils) to help local communities during the crisis. You can complete the attached survey and email this back to Ruairi.lehmann@galwaycity.ie.

The Restart Grant announced on May 15th by Minister Heather Humphreys TD is a direct grant aid to micro and small businesses, contributing towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers.

The grant can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety.
See more details here.

An Post is committing €2 million worth of practical supports to help Ireland’s SMEs get back to business and selling online successfully and sustainably. There are three strands to the An Post package which may be accessed by registering for the An Post Advantage Card through anpost.com/commerce and post offices. See details here.

The online registration for Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades opened on Tuesday 26th May. All Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students should register on gov.ie/leavingcertificate. See further details here.

Tenancies are being impacted by the current pandemic in a number of different ways. Making rent payments is not the only difficulty being faced by renters: those living in house-shares are also being impacted by self-isolation and social distancing requirements. You can contact Threshold if you need advice, need their help in contacting your landlord to protect your tenancy or engaging with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Their helpline is open from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and can be reached at 1800 454 454. Alternatively, you can contact them by email here. They have also created a dedicated freephone helpline to support workers in the hospitality sector impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. If you are worried about making rent payments, you can contact them for advice on 1800 778 899.

Join a 90 minute seminar on the 11th June at 11am to get some useful advice on working from home from Linda Ford who is a personal development coach and trainer working with clients around the globe. This training is open to anyone working or volunteering in the not for profit sector. Register here.

Aware have announced a Zoom Support & Self Care group in addition to the conference call Phone In groups which were introduced recently. The Zoom Support & Self Care group is for people experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and other mood-related conditions – who would like to see others on video. Good wifi is necessary.
The purpose of these groups is for people to give and receive support and coping skills in relation to their mood-related condition and feelings.
To book a place on either the Zoom or the Phone In group go to https://www.aware.ie/support/support-groups/.

Family carers sometimes have difficulty coping with their emotional well-being and their mental health and are more likely to struggle with stress, anxiety and depression than the general population. As a carer, there are times when you may find yourself struggling with your mental health and emotional wellbeing due to a combination of the demands of your caring role, and the additional challenges you might be facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Family Carers Ireland offer help to family carers, as they believe no one should have to care alone. They have developed a free, short-term online and phone counselling service for family carers and will connect carers with a qualified counsellor from a panel of approved professionals. The service can be accessed through the Family Caresr Ireland website here or through the National Freephone Careline on 1800 24 07 24.

Age Action have developed ‘How to’ guides on using digital technology such as downloading Apps to your phone, using Zoom, using WhatsApp etc. These are all great ways to keep in touch with family and friends. You can also call Age Action on 01 8730372, leave your name and address and Age Action will post the Guides to you within 10 days.
Check the guides at the links below:

Let’s Play Ireland is a government-led initiative aimed at promoting play for all children living in Ireland during the COVID-19 emergency. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs are continuously adding to Let’s Play Ireland. The website has recently been updated to include the theme Let’s Play Outside and Let’s Play Creatively and other new excellent resources have been added to the existing themes on the page www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/lets-play-ireland/

New Life For Old LaptopsUniversity Initiative To Provide Laptops To School Students In Need

Due to COVID-19, the demand for laptops for students has increased as more and more second-level educational resources and testing will be provided online. People across the country are urged to donate any unused computers available.
The technical personnel at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics NUI Galway compiled an easy-to-follow video and written instructions that would allow people to reimage their old laptops before donating them by wiping off all data and installing free open-sourced operating systems and other key software such as browser, word processing and spreadsheet.
To watch the video go here.
Find further details here.

The Department of Law at Maynooth University are leading a research project about new policing, security, and surveillance measures being introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will complete a short demographic survey and respond to a series of questions related to their awareness, concern and trust for various activities by different agencies in response to COVID-19 measures. Topics of discussion will relate to the COVID-19 pandemic primarily and will include some sensitive issues such as “experience with victimisation of online crime”. If you are interested in completing the survey, please go to this link here.

The Galway City Council Mobility Team will consider and respond to requests for the allocation/re-allocation of road and other public spaces to facilitate social distancing requirements associated with COVID-19 restrictions.

If you would like to submit a request to the Galway City Council Mobility Team to support social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, please fill in details of your request here.
For further details see www.galwaycity.ie/mobilityteam.

Please see here a survey from Business in the Community Ireland, who work with partner businesses across Ireland on making a positive social impact in their local communities, and on tackling issues around poverty, inequality, disadvantage, isolation, and sustainability.
Their member companies are looking for ways they can collaborate (whether with other businesses, charities & voluntary organisations or with local councils) to help local communities during the crisis. You can complete the attached survey and email this back to Ruairi.lehmann@galwaycity.ie.

The Restart Grant announced on May 15th by Minister Heather Humphreys TD is a direct grant aid to micro and small businesses, contributing towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers.

The grant can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety.
See more details here.

An Post is committing €2 million worth of practical supports to help Ireland’s SMEs get back to business and selling online successfully and sustainably. There are three strands to the An Post package which may be accessed by registering for the An Post Advantage Card through anpost.com/commerce and post offices. See details here.

The online registration for Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades opened on Tuesday 26th May. All Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students should register on gov.ie/leavingcertificate. See further details here.

Tenancies are being impacted by the current pandemic in a number of different ways. Making rent payments is not the only difficulty being faced by renters: those living in house-shares are also being impacted by self-isolation and social distancing requirements. You can contact Threshold if you need advice, need their help in contacting your landlord to protect your tenancy or engaging with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Their helpline is open from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and can be reached at 1800 454 454. Alternatively, you can contact them by email here. They have also created a dedicated freephone helpline to support workers in the hospitality sector impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. If you are worried about making rent payments, you can contact them for advice on 1800 778 899.

Join a 90 minute seminar on the 11th June at 11am to get some useful advice on working from home from Linda Ford who is a personal development coach and trainer working with clients around the globe. This training is open to anyone working or volunteering in the not for profit sector. Register here.

Aware have announced a Zoom Support & Self Care group in addition to the conference call Phone In groups which were introduced recently. The Zoom Support & Self Care group is for people experiencing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and other mood-related conditions – who would like to see others on video. Good wifi is necessary.
The purpose of these groups is for people to give and receive support and coping skills in relation to their mood-related condition and feelings.
To book a place on either the Zoom or the Phone In group go to https://www.aware.ie/support/support-groups/.

Family carers sometimes have difficulty coping with their emotional well-being and their mental health and are more likely to struggle with stress, anxiety and depression than the general population. As a carer, there are times when you may find yourself struggling with your mental health and emotional wellbeing due to a combination of the demands of your caring role, and the additional challenges you might be facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Family Carers Ireland offer help to family carers, as they believe no one should have to care alone. They have developed a free, short-term online and phone counselling service for family carers and will connect carers with a qualified counsellor from a panel of approved professionals. The service can be accessed through the Family Caresr Ireland website here or through the National Freephone Careline on 1800 24 07 24.

Age Action have developed ‘How to’ guides on using digital technology such as downloading Apps to your phone, using Zoom, using WhatsApp etc. These are all great ways to keep in touch with family and friends. You can also call Age Action on 01 8730372, leave your name and address and Age Action will post the Guides to you within 10 days.
Check the guides at the links below:

Let’s Play Ireland is a government-led initiative aimed at promoting play for all children living in Ireland during the COVID-19 emergency. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs are continuously adding to Let’s Play Ireland. The website has recently been updated to include the theme Let’s Play Outside and Let’s Play Creatively and other new excellent resources have been added to the existing themes on the page www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/lets-play-ireland/

New Life For Old LaptopsUniversity Initiative To Provide Laptops To School Students In Need

Due to COVID-19, the demand for laptops for students has increased as more and more second-level educational resources and testing will be provided online. People across the country are urged to donate any unused computers available.
The technical personnel at the Insight Centre for Data Analytics NUI Galway compiled an easy-to-follow video and written instructions that would allow people to reimage their old laptops before donating them by wiping off all data and installing free open-sourced operating systems and other key software such as browser, word processing and spreadsheet.
To watch the video go here.
Find further details here.

The Department of Law at Maynooth University are leading a research project about new policing, security, and surveillance measures being introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will complete a short demographic survey and respond to a series of questions related to their awareness, concern and trust for various activities by different agencies in response to COVID-19 measures. Topics of discussion will relate to the COVID-19 pandemic primarily and will include some sensitive issues such as “experience with victimisation of online crime”. If you are interested in completing the survey, please go to this link here.

Dear GCCN Member,
As the COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease throughout the country, the communication we will be sending out to all GCCN members will now include both the GCCN COVID-19 related newsletters you have been receiving regularly since March and the standard GCCN newsletters containing members' news and events and other non-COVID-19 related information.If you have any news or events you wish to share with us go here.

Age Friendly Ireland is conducting a survey on rightsizing (downsizing, or moving to a more age-appropriate house). This piece of work is being carried out in the context of the Housing Options for our Ageing Population Policy Statement.
Age Friendly are interested in hearing the views of older people across the country in relation to their perceptions and experiences of rightsizing. This survey follows on from research carried out by Fingal PPN last year on the same topic.

Those in the GAA missing the unmistakable tones and tales of Michel Ó Muircheartaigh are in for a treat next Tuesday 19th May 6.30pm-7.30pm when the broadcasting legend contributes to a special webinar on wellbeing on the topic of ‘How to Age Well’.

The live event, supported by Irish Life and hosted by GAA and TILDA, will feature evidence and anecdotes revealing the secrets of a long and happy life.

This year, Friends of Merlin Woods are bringing Biodiversity week online with a number of interactive events and discussions ongoing for the week as follows:

Biodiversity week art competition: Bug Life
You are invited to create a story about the tiny creatures we share our homes, gardens or wild areas with: real or imagined, hairy, slimy or crusty. The competition is open to all ages and collaboration is welcomed. Artworks can be in any medium including drawing, photography, dance, sculpture, music or drama. Entries can be submitted in photo or video to friendsofmerlinwoods@gmail.com or uploaded to the group page Friends of Merlin Woods on Facebook. Closing Date May 24th at 9pm.

Thanks to Debbie Reilly for her input for the art competition , she will be helping us judge the winners .

Facebook Live Events
A series of Facebook events will be held from May 18th until May 24th.
Check the Virtual Biodiversity Week 2020 MerlinWoods events page on Facebook for the full programme which will include talks on the red squirrel, wildlife and healthy habitats, biodiversity and the actions everyday people can make in relation to protecting and preserving our beautiful wildlife areas.

Friends of Merlin Woods are also encouraging people to get out and photograph wildlife and record it to the National Biodiversity Centre. If needed, Friends of Merlin Woods can offer help with the identification of different wildlife species.

Carmichael published a new guidance document, Resources Available to Help With the Implementation of the Charities Governance Code which was developed to help charities that are implementing the Charities Governance Code by matching the standards in the Code against resources that are available to help with implementation. You can download the resources document here.